What Happens If Your Solar Installer Goes Bust?

Solar panels are a long-term investment — typically 25 years or more. Over that period, the company that installed your system may change hands, rebrand, or cease trading altogether. Knowing what protections cover you before you sign a contract, and what to do if something goes wrong, could save you thousands of pounds.

The MCS Workmanship Warranty: Your First Line of Defence

Every MCS-certified installation must come with a workmanship warranty, and crucially that warranty must be backed by insurance so it survives even if the installer closes. The requirement sits within the MCS 001 standard (the overarching installer certification scheme), which mandates that all MCS members belong to a consumer code — either RECC (Renewable Energy Consumer Code) or HIES (Home Insulation and Energy Systems). Both codes require an Insurance-Backed Guarantee (IBG) to be issued at completion.

The IBG is the key instrument here. If the installer that fitted your panels ceases to trade, the IBG steps in and honours whatever was left of the workmanship guarantee period — typically 2 to 10 years depending on the contract. The insurance policy sits with a third-party underwriter (commonly QANW/Warranty Services Ltd under RECC's Deposit and Workmanship Warranty Insurance scheme), entirely independent of the installer's balance sheet.

What if my installer was not MCS-certified?

Without MCS certification, the workmanship warranty is only as durable as the company itself. If it folds, the warranty disappears with it. This is one of the strongest reasons to use an MCS-certified installer from the outset — not just for the Smart Export Guarantee eligibility, but for the IBG protection attached to the scheme.

RECC Consumer Code: Deposit Protection and Dispute Resolution

RECC-registered installers must protect your deposit under the same DAWWI (Deposit and Workmanship Warranty Insurance) scheme that underpins the IBG. If you have paid a deposit and the installer goes bust before work starts, or abandons the job mid-way, you can make a claim to recover that money.

RECC also ran an independent dispute resolution process for complaints. From 20 January 2026, new complaints are directed to Green Homes Dispute Resolution — a free, independent service covering renewable energy and low-carbon home improvements. If your installer is a RECC member and you cannot resolve the issue directly, this service can adjudicate and, if the ruling goes in your favour, the company must comply or face removal from the scheme.

HIES: A Parallel Consumer Code with Similar Protections

Installers who belong to HIES rather than RECC offer a broadly comparable set of protections. HIES deposit protection covers up to 25% of the contract value, capped at £5,000, for 120 days from the date you sign. Insurance-backed guarantees run alongside that, protecting the workmanship warranty if the installer ceases trading. HIES is a CTSI (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) approved code, which means it carries the same legal standing as RECC.

Some installers hold both memberships. When comparing quotes, it is worth confirming which code applies and asking for the IBG certificate reference before any money changes hands.

TrustMark: Government-Endorsed Added Security

TrustMark is the only UK Government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvement work. Registered businesses must meet technical standards and carry approved financial protection, which for solar installations means an Insurance-Backed Guarantee from a recognised provider. TrustMark does not replace RECC or HIES — many installers hold all three marks — but it adds an extra layer of audit and gives you a route to raise concerns through Trading Standards if needed.

Section 75: Credit Card Protection

If you paid any part of the installation cost on a credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the card issuer jointly and equally liable for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by the installer. This applies to purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 in value — which covers virtually any domestic solar installation. Critically, paying only the deposit by credit card is enough; you do not have to have paid the full balance on the card.

This means that if the installer goes bust mid-installation, or fits a substandard system and then disappears, you can bypass the defunct company entirely and claim directly from your credit card provider. The card issuer cannot simply refuse on the grounds that the supplier, not the card company, was at fault — the liability is joint. If the credit card company disputes the claim, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.

The upshot: whenever the contract value is within the Section 75 ceiling, always pay at least a portion by credit card. For a deeper look at managing the cost of a solar installation, our full cost guide breaks down typical system prices and payment structures.

Consumer Finance: Section 75A Recourse

Many installers offer in-house or third-party financing. When you buy on a regulated consumer credit agreement — rather than a credit card — Section 75A of the Consumer Credit Act provides a related but slightly different right. You must first demonstrate you have taken reasonable steps to resolve the matter with the installer (or their administrator/liquidator) before the lender becomes liable. The finance company's liability is also limited to equal rather than joint liability, meaning you may need to prove your loss rather than having an automatic claim.

RECC has published specific guidance confirming that consumers who take out loans through the installer can pursue the finance provider if the goods or services are not delivered or are defective.

Manufacturer Warranties: Unaffected by Installer Insolvency

Panel and inverter warranties run with the product, not with the installer. A typical UK solar installation carries a manufacturer product warranty of 12–20 years on the panels themselves, a linear performance warranty of 25–30 years guaranteeing output retention, and an inverter manufacturer warranty of 5–12 years (extendable). These are obligations of the equipment manufacturer — which is usually a global company — and they remain fully in force regardless of what happens to the firm that fitted the system.

The caveat is registration: some manufacturers require the system to have been registered on their portal at the time of installation for the warranty to be activated. If your installer went bust before completing registration, contact the manufacturer directly with the MCS installation certificate and proof of purchase.

What to Do If Your Installer Goes Bust Mid-Installation

If work has started but not finished, move through these steps in order:

1. Secure the site. If scaffolding is up and panels are partially fitted, ensure the roof is weatherproof. Take dated photographs of the current state immediately.
2. Locate the IBG certificate. It should be in your installation paperwork. Contact RECC, HIES, or QANW directly if you cannot find it.
3. Notify RECC or HIES in writing, referencing your contract date and the installer's membership number.
4. Contact your credit card provider or finance company with a Section 75 or Section 75A claim if the IBG route is slow or the installer was not code-registered.
5. Get a survey from an independent MCS installer to document what work has been done and what remains, which will support any claim valuation.

How to Check an Installer's Financial Health Before Signing

A five-minute check before signing a contract can materially reduce your risk:

• Companies House — check filing history, accounts, and whether any winding-up petitions are registered at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
• MCS installer register — confirm the firm appears on the live register at mcscertified.com; lapsed or suspended members do not appear.
• RECC or HIES member list — verify the installer is currently a member, not merely claiming to be.
• Trading age — a company incorporated fewer than two years ago with no audited accounts carries more risk; check the incorporation date on Companies House.

For a fuller view of how to evaluate your options, our guide on whether solar panels are worth it covers the due-diligence questions alongside the financial case.

Summary: Your Protection Layers at a Glance